With the final days of January just ahead, we’re soon thinking about Valentine’s Day here at Meadowbrooke Gourds. Our January Product of the Month is both charming and whimsical, a gift for Mom from her wee ones.

New for 2012, this piece of gourd art is approximately 12″ tall and comes installed with an electric light.  We think you’ll enjoy it as much as we do!

Of course, it’s not the only Valentine-themed gourd art that we have available in our online shop.

The Valerie Valentine Angels are available in two sizes.

The small version (shown above) measures approximate 3 1/2 inches in diameter. The medium comes with an electric light that shines through the heart vine cut-out design. Approximately 5″ in diameter.

Purple martins nest almost exclusively in man-made structures like a birdhouse constructed from one of our raw, cleaned gourds. If you’re eager to attract this large swallow species to your backyard, a dried and cleaned gourd can easily be constructed into a birdhouse.

 Procedure:

• Select a well-dried and aesthetically pleasing gourd. Remember, thick walls will ensure that the gourd birdhouse will weather the elements well.  Varieties with broad bottoms like Martin and Bottle make good choices here.
• Using a 2″ circle saw, drill a hole roughly 3 inches above the base of the gourd.  Work slowly to avoid splintering the gourd.  The circle saw bit will leave a clean-edged hole.
• The gourd will still be full of seeds and some internal membranes, so you can empty those out through the hole you just cut. Don’t throw away the seeds! They can be planted to produce your own gourds during the next growing season.
• Drill three small holes in the bottom of the gourd for drainage. 1/8″ will do nicely here.
• Drill two holes at the top of the gourd and thread either sisal twine or thin wire through to hang the birdhouse.
• You are now free to paint, stain or seal your gourd birdhouse in any way you’d like. Bright solid colors work well.

If you need some creative inspiration, here’s a selection of gourd birdhouses available at our online store.

Various gourd shapes make up our MBGourd birdhouses

Raw penguin gourds

If you’re new to crafting with gourds, you’ve probably discovered that there are a dizzying number of gourd varieties – shapes, sizes and grades – available to the crafting consumer. Our raw, cleaned gourds are craft-ready for your next project.

The best way to create a beautiful gourd art piece is to start with a top quality gourd. The most prized gourds among many gourd artisans are those that are symmetrical with a smooth, thick shell without visible cracks or other imperfections. Inspect the surface of the gourd closely and look for cracks or other damage.

Superficial cracks can be easily patched and filled with any commercially available woodfiller.

Choose gourds that have a shape and size that works for your intended craft project. Penguin gourds have a curved neck that many find appealing, but may not stand upright on their own. Bottle gourds have a pinched waist between wider tops and bottoms. Experiment with different sizes and shapes to get those creative juices flowing. Does the raw gourd remind you of something? Build your design around it.

Treat the walls of the gourd as you would treat wood – it can be etched, burned with a woodburning tool, carved, stained and painted. The only limits are your imagination! Just a reminder: gourd dust can be irritating, so be sure to wear a respirator and work in a well-ventilated area if you are going to be cutting your gourd open.

Although we have many weeks of winter still ahead of us, it is fun to think about the coming of Spring. We just finalized the dates of our 2012 Spring Open Houses, which also puts us in the mood to talk about bunnies, chicks, and all things Easter!

For just a taste of spring in your home all year long, we suggest our dragonfly, hummingbird, or butterfly! These gourds are simple, modern, and beautiful. The light makes them a great option for a soothing nightlight as well. Just click on any of the images to purchase.

Dragonfly gourd with light

Humminbird with light

Butterfly with light

Raw gourds at Meadowbrooke Gourds

For all of you DIYers out there or for those that are just interested in what we do at Meadowbrooke Gourds, here is some insight into one of the steps in gourd crafting- drying.

For those that want to craft and paint their own gourds without the hassle of growing, drying, and cleaning, we do offer raw, cleaned gourds in many shapes and sizes online here.

Here at the farm after the first frost, we cut the gourds off the vine and line them up in rows. There they sit until the snows melt and the ground thaws. By that time they are close to 90% dry. Then we pick them up, and the can begin thier journey to our washing and crafting rooms.

Gourds in our zone in Central Pennsylvania grow from June to October or until the first hard frost hits.  The frost will kill the vine and it will not continue to grow.  After the hard frost hits, pick your gourds and let them dry outside over winter, off the ground (skid, picnic table, etc.) if you can.  It is okay to place them on the ground-they will just take a little longer to dry.  If a gourd has a matured to a hard shell a frost will not harm it.  If a gourd got a late start and is not mature, the frost will make it rot.

A quality gourd will go through a skin decay molding process-this is normal as long as the gourd is still hard and not mushy to the touch.  Do not get discouraged if your gourds look terrible and may even smell.  Small gourds dry faster than larger ones.  Some really large gourds can take up to June the following year to dry completely.  Your gourd is completely dried when it weighs only ounces.  For most, this is around March or April.

Please let us know if you have any gourd drying questions! We’re here to help.

Meadowbrooke Snowmen are one of the most beloved aspects of our winter collection. The best part is, these gourds can be displayed all winter long well after the holidays. Invite these “snowy creatures” to warm your home this winter.

Charlie Collection

Brambles family

Frosty Collection

Our #1 Selling Winter Product -Nick Collection

Oliver collection

Lana

Stanley family

This sale is ONE day only and while supplies last so get your order in early on Tuesday, December 20th!

Shop at http://www.mbgourds.com

Happy Holidays!

THANK YOU to everyone that participated in our online Silent Auction as well as the live Silent Auction at our Retail Store this past weekend.

Here are just a few of the unique, one-of-a-kind gourds that were sold:

Large tree gourd

Snowman with Stars

Caroler

Gourd Nativity Scene

4-tier snowman

Santa Silhouette

Winter Scene

Blue Lit Flower

We would like to send a big THANK YOU to everyone that participated in our first Online Silent Auction. It was a huge success with over 200 bids coming in. We are able to donate $640.00 to Project S.H.A.R.E as a result of this auction. Thank you again!

We joined other Carlisle Area businesses as part of the Claus Cause! This year's charity was Project S.H.A.R.E. We are so thrilled we were able to play a part in this great initiative to support a worthy cause.

Give a gift that is sure to be treasured and enjoyed for years to come – a Custom Pet Portrait Gourd Ornament!

Custom Pet Portrait Ornament at Meadowbrooke Gourds

The ornaments are $15.00 each. Add your pet’s name and year for $3.00. If the ornament needs shipped it is $7.00. Call our retail store for more information: 717-776-6029.

Kate A. Cocoros is the artist that will be painting your custom order. Read about Kate on her website here.